Scripture Reading
Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Reflection
Paul gives nine words that describe what a Spirit-filled life looks like from the outside. These are not achievements to strive for but fruit to be grown — the natural result of a life rooted in the Spirit. Notice the first three: love, joy, peace. These are not contingent on circumstances but on the presence of the Spirit who transcends them. Which of these nine fruits is least present in your life right now? That may be precisely where the Spirit wants to work.
Prayer for Today
Father, you know our hearts and share our sorrows. We are hurt by our parting from those whom we loved: when we are angry at the loss we have sustained, when we long for words of comfort, yet find them hard to hear, turn our grief to truer living, our affliction to firmer hope in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Amen.